Mail-box



NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES` G. CUTLER, OF ROCIIESTER, NEW YORK.

MAIL-Box.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,057, dated May 1,1894.

Application filed December 23, 1891. SerialNo. 415,989. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. CUTLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe, in the State of NewYork, have invented an Improved Mail-Box, of which the following is aspeciication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. a

My invention relates to certain improvements inthe constructionofmail-boxes, which improvements are fully described and illustrated inthe following specification and the accompanying drawings,-the novelfeatures thereof being specified in the claims annexed to the saidspecification. In the accompanying drawings, representing a mail-boxembodying my improvements, Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is avertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionon the line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a partial side-view of theswinging-box. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.

In the mail-box represented in the accompanying drawings, A is the outercasing, which is closed at the top by the head or cover C, and open atthe lower end to permit the movement of the inner mail-receptacle orholder B, which slides lengthwise or. downward to the requisite degreeout of the box, as indicated at B', to permit ythe removal of themail-matter through an opening J in its front or side. An orifice b inthe outer case, closed bythe swinging flap L, permits the introductionofV mail-matter into the box. The box is locked by securing the innermailholder in the outer case by means of the hasp and staple, F H, andany ordinary fasteningy device such as t-he padlock I.

It is designed to make the Whole structure of sheet-metal, therebysecuring strength, lightness and cheapness. In this case the outer shellA is bent into shape and formed with a riveted joint e, Figs. 2 and 3.The head C is lianged and riveted, as shown. The upper edge of the innerholder is beaded or bent outward as represented at a, Fig. 2, and thelower edge of the outer case is beaded or bent inward, as shown at c, soas to prevent the inner holder from slippin g or being drawn entirelyout of the box. In the assembling of the parts of the box, the head C isiirst riveted in, and then, the inner holder B, provided with the flangea, but Without its lower head D, is inserted in the case, the iange cHanging or riveting as may be preferred,- A

the opening J permitting access to the interior of the holder `for thispurpose. It will be observed that the holder is somewhat smaller thanthe interior of the case and one or more springs, R, are employed inthis space to press the holder against the front of the case, andprevent a thin letter or postal card from sticking in the joint aroundthe edges of the opening J. These springs are secured to the holder onits rear side, near its upper end, and bear against the interior of thecase. They also serve by the friction they cause to retard the downwardmovement of the holder.

In order to provide for attaching the box while-the holder is withdrawnsufficiently from the case. The head D may be provided with the handleE. It will be observed that the opening J does not extend entirely downto the head D,but that a wall K projects upward from the head a suitabledistance, serving toprevent the mail-matter from falling out of the boxwhen opened.

In FigsA: and 5 I have represented a modified manner of supporting amail-box, on a pivot at its upper end, so that it can be swung into thehorizontal or nearly horizontal position, for convenience of access tothe contents.

Y, Figs. 4 and k5, is an arm projecting outward from any suitablesupport, and carrying the pivot U, to which the box is attached byAmeans of the armT and disk U. In order to provide for holding the boxin an approximately horizontal position, I form anotch in ICO the diskU, in which a pin or catch on the spring V engages, to hold the box inthe p0- sition A if desired. The spring may also be employed to securethe box in the vertical position.

I claiml. The combination, in a mail box, of the outer case A,permanently closed at its upper end, and having mailing orifice b, andthe inner sliding holder B closed at its lower end and provided withopening J on the side next the mailing orifice, and means for preventingthe entire withdrawal of the holder from the case, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, with the outer case A having head C, inwardly turnedflange c at its lower end, and mail-orifice b, of the inner slidingholder B having fiange a and opening J 0n the side next themail-orifice, said opening J being normally in direct communication withthe mail-orifice and adapted to be exposed by lowering the slidingholder B, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a Ymail box of the outer case closed at one endand the inner holder arranged to slide within the case and provided withan opening adapted to receive the mail when the box is closed and toexpose it when the box is open, and a fastening for said case concealedby the inner holder when closed, said holder being adapted to besuspended from the case, substantially as set forth.

4.-. The combination, in a mail box, of an outer case closed at itsupper end, an inner sliding holder provided with an opening on one side,means for supporting the holder from the casewhen in its lowestposition, and a spring arranged within the case and adapted to keep theholder on its apertured side in contact with the interior of the holder,substantially as described.

5. A swinging mail-box pivoted at or near its upper end, and providedwith means for securing it in an approximately horizontal position, forconvenience of access to its contents, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a swinging mailbox, consisting of an outer caseand an inner sliding holder, of means for securing it in anapproximately horizontal position, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the mail-box A, of the arm Y carrying spring V,the pivot X and notched disk U, substantially as described.

JAMES G. (BUTLER. Witnesses:

J. H. GILMORE, Jr., J. WARREN CUTLER.

